Production Operator Lead

Niagara Bottling•Ponchatoula, LA

About The Position

The Production Operator Lead collaborates with the Production Supervisor to support daily production-floor operations and help ensure the shift meets established safety, quality, and production goals while complying with applicable legal and food safety requirements. The role supports shift handoffs, production-line readiness and changeovers, material management, quality checks, production reporting, and monitoring downtime. It requires adherence to company safety programs, Good Manufacturing Practices, and food safety standards, as well as regular and predictable attendance. The position requires the ability to work 12-hour shifts, day or night, on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or another schedule dictated by production demand. Duties and responsibilities may change.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience in the field or a similar manufacturing environment; experience may combine work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience in the position; experience may combine work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience managing people or projects; experience may combine work experience and education.
High school diploma or GED.
Ability to work 12-hour shifts, day or night, on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or a schedule dictated by production demand.
Regular and predictable attendance.

Nice To Haves

6 years of experience in the field or a similar manufacturing environment; experience may combine work experience and education.
6 years of experience working in the position; experience may combine work experience and education.
6 years of experience managing people or projects; experience may combine work experience and education.
Associate's degree.

Responsibilities

Assist the Production Supervisor with daily activities of the assigned shift and help ensure products meet safety, quality, and throughput standards.
Communicate challenges and opportunities on production lines with the previous shift in preparation for the shift.
Conduct shift walkthroughs to verify safety, housekeeping, and quality compliance.
Assist with batching minerals, when applicable, and preparing production lines for scheduled changeovers.
Order and inspect raw materials before changeovers to ensure the correct inventory is available.
Perform first-pass quality checks after changeovers to prevent non-conforming product and return raw materials after production runs.
Verify discrete jobs in Oracle, the Warehouse Management System, and/or the Line Management System, including quality information and bills of material.
Support the Production Supervisor with hourly and/or end-of-shift production reports.
Use Efficiency Improvement Tools to understand and comment on line downtime and communicate according to the escalation plan.
Follow company and plant safety programs, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
Follow Niagara’s Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety Standards.

Benefits

Paid time off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time.
Paid parental and caregiver leaves.
Medical coverage, including virtual care options.
Dental coverage.
Vision coverage.
401(k) with company match.
Health Savings Account with company match.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Expanded mental wellbeing benefits, including free counseling sessions for team members and household family members.
Family-building benefits, including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation, plus adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursements.
Income protection, including life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, critical illness, and an accident plan.
Discount programs, including pet plans, prepaid legal services, identity theft protection, car rental, and airport parking.
Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan, and scholarship opportunities.